Eucharist the focus of Men of Immaculata Conference

The Eucharist and teaching the true meaning of the body and blood of Christ will be the mission of the Men of the Immaculata Conference for the next three years.

Following the lead of the Catholic Church, which launched the three-year Eucharistic Revival this past year, the conference will devote its next annual events to evangelizing men through the Eucharist, which is the heart of the church.

The theme for this year is “Prepare to Encounter the Lord,” said incoming conference chairman Warren Dazzio.

The increasingly popular conference, which attracts men from as far away as New Orleans and surrounding areas, is scheduled Feb. 25 at St. George Church in Baton Rouge.

Dazzio said the theme is specifically designed to help the men encounter the Lord through the Eucharist.

“How do we prepare for that?” he said. “We do that through humility, going to the sacrament of confession, preparing our hearts, all of those type of things.”

Dazzio said the 2024 theme will focus on the Eucharist being the source and summit of the faith and the third year centered on evangelizing through the Eucharist.

“It is three years of being specifically for men and wanting to be in line with the church,” Dazzio said.

Dazzio believes this year will have added significance because of the launch of the Eucharistic Revival.

“This is a great opportunity to stress to people how central the Eucharist is to our faith,” he said. “One of the things we are trying to do is help our guys appreciate the Eucharist more, to help them respect the Eucharist more and build up reverence for the Eucharist.”

For the first time the conference will feature a eucharistic procession scheduled to be led by Bishop Michael G. Duca through the St. George campus, weather permitting. If the weather is uncooperative, the procession will remain in the church.

Former Navy SEAL Sam Blair will head the spiritually inspiring slate of speakers, a lineup that also features Peter Burak, St. John the Baptist Church in Zachary pastor Father Jeff Bayhi and Chef John Folse.

Blair, a resident of Covington, led elite SEAL teams on missions throughout the world and has taught leadership and ethics courses at the United States Naval Academy. He has helped select and train more than 90 future SEAL officers.

Burak is the vice-president of Renewal Ministries and the director of Id, the organization’s young adult outreach. He travels the country speaking on discipleship and evangelization and is a monthly columnist for Faith Magazine.

He is also the host of the Leadership Podcast and the television show “G2G: Glory to God.”

Father Bayhi is host of the weekly television show “A Closer Walk.”

Folse, a master storyteller, provides lunch but his popular stories that are a gumbo of humor and his own faith are always a hit with the men.

Dazzio said the goal is not a “one and done” conference but to inspire the men to return to their parishes, their families and their community and bring back the faith into what they do in their everyday lives.

“For me it’s kind of a jumping off place,” Dazzio said. “You don’t have to be a church goer. Anybody can come.

“We want the guys in the pews and the guys not in the pews to come. The goal is to jump start them so when they go back in their parishes and families, they are a great witness and actively  doing stuff in their community and their church.”

Dazzio said 30 to 40 priests will be present to hear confession to “clean the slate.”

“It is an exciting event,” he said. “Walking in hearing 1,000 guys sing, praying the rosary, it gets you worked up.”

The cost is $75 per person and includes lunch and the coveted swag bag that will feature two books, a rosary and other items to be determined. Discounts are available for students.

Dazzio said that if cost is a difficulty, he advised that person to reach out to a committee for assistance. He said there are numerous people willing to help.

Registration is from 6:30 – 7:30 a.m. with benediction to follow.

Bishop Duca will celebrate Mass to close the day.

For more information visit Catholicmenbr.com.